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Newsnight host Kirsty Wark is one of 13 people who has accused MasterChef star Gregg Wallace of inappropriate ‘sexualised’ behaviour during filming. 

Wallace, 60, who has since stepped away from the show, has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’ as well as talking about his sex life to others.

On one occasion he allegedly told a junior female colleague he wasn’t wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans.

The BBC has revealed that several people including the journalist have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. 

Ms Walk alleges that Wallace told stories and jokes of a ‘sexualised nature’ in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 on two occasions, adding that his gags and comments were ‘really, really in the wrong place’. 

When Ms Wark appeared the sixth season of the hit BBC show, she stormed her way to the final alongside actor Nick Pickard and rugby star Phil Vickery. 

Despite her successful run on the cooking show, she missed out on victory, ultimately walking away with the title of second place. 

As Wallace steps down from the show after 13-year run amid recent allegations, MailOnline takes a look exchanges between the pair during Ms Wark’s stint. 

Certain moments are fairly brief between the pair, particularly an early moment of episode 25, where Gregg tells Kirsty her dish ‘looks lovely’. 

However under the intense pressure of the competition, Ms Wark keeps her response quite short only replying: ‘Mmm. Good.’

During the episode Wallace, is full of compliments for the cook, who he introduced as ‘a respected journalist,’ before adding: ‘Who knew that lady could cook like this?’

It was evident throughout the show that winning the illustrious title of MasterChef Celebrity champion meant a great deal to Ms Wark, who said ‘everything’ was at stake when questioned by Wallace.

Later on that same episode, the pressure of the competition seemed to take its toll as the Newsnight host tersely responded ‘Yes’ when Gregg reminded her of the 15-minute deadline with her starter. 

But shortly after the cookery host was supportive of the broadcaster, with his complimentary critique of her ‘fluffy’ starter as well as encouraging her as she took on the challenge of cooking her main course.

As Ms Wark assembled her Guinea Foul main, Gregg became visibly startled, removing his glasses and rubbing his face as she decanted her gravy into a jug, rushing to get her dish over the line. 

Later commentating on her Guinea Foul meal, Gregg said: ‘[It] looks really odd, it’s a really unusual combination of ingredients.’ 

As she then races to finish her lemon tart, Gregg quipped: ‘C’mon Kirsty is it really important where the last blueberry goes?’ 

After finishing the round of the high-pressure competition, Ms Wark released an exasperated sigh, before adding: ‘I really hope I’ve done enough to go through. 

‘I think it’s come to be a great adventure and I don’t want it to stop now.’

When it came to giving a verdict on the journalist’s food both judges were critical of the journalist’s dishes as she potentially faced being axed from the competition.

Both praised her starter, were at odds about her lemon tart dessert, and branded her main as ‘confus[ing]’, with Wallace noting that her food ‘lacked a bit of excitement’.

However the former Newsnight host survived another round of the competition, making it to the final three.

On the 27th episode of the season she remarked that making it to the finals was ‘not enough’, and only winning was the desired outcome.  

‘Making it to the finals is just that further stop along the way. It’s just keeping the fear under control and just letting the passion take over,’ she said. 

During this episode of the show Kirsty is sent away to the Saltyard in Fitzrovia, London, to learn the tricks of the trade. 

The broadcaster did generally well, despite overcooking one piece of pork and one tense moment with the chef over rice that was ‘too wet’. 

Reflecting on her experience being in the busy kitchen at a high-end restaurant, she said it was ‘such a challenge’ whilst showing off burn she sustained while cooking. 

The journalist was then tasked with cooking two of star chef’s Ben Tish’s signature tapas dishes – ham croquettes and courgette flowers.

However she was left beaming when Chef Tish complimented her cooking.

But her obstacles weren’t quite over as she had to bring her newly learnt skills back to judges Wallace and John Torode.

As she announced her dish of sliced de-boned chicken on a bed of macaroni, coupled with kale and mushrooms, Wallace didn’t seem convinced she could pull it off. 

‘Kirsty has really got her work cut out over there and it’s all got to be presented on what looks like a plate the size of a matchbox,’ he said. 

‘I’ll be really impressed if she can pull this off.’

But the presenter soon ate his words, later dubbing her dish as ‘super yummy’ but questioned if she could keep ‘the standard’ up. 

Despite the praise for her ‘lovely’ dish, she recognised there was ‘a long way to go’,. 

She added: ‘There’s some very difficult tasks ahead so no one takes anything for granted in here.’

‘I’m delighted to have cooked a good dish because I learnt a lot in that restaurant, they were brilliant teachers. But I have got to do better than that next time.’

In another clip from episode 29 of the season, the pair can be seen joking around as they cooked up a storm at the Two-Michelin Star Gidleigh Park. 

When told her ravioli of Cornish lobster with spring cabbage was ‘bordering on lunacy’ by Gregg, a smiling Ms Wark replied: ‘Yeah but I am bordering on lunacy now so we have kind of meshed. ‘ 

After being asked how she was going to approach the challenge, she added: ‘Its got to 45 percent fear and 55 per cent excitement and when one tips the other way its a problem. 

She later giggled alongside Wallace, adding: ‘I’m 48 per cent fear, 52 per cent excitement, just have to make sure it doesn’t tip over.’

When asked how it was going to pan out by the presenter, she jokingly raised her knife, adding whilst smiling: ‘This intense.’

In 2011 interview, the Scottish presenter said she ‘adored’ her MasterChef experience and was lavish in her praise for Wallace’s co-presenter John Torode – but made no mention whatsoever of Wallace. 

Wallace, 60, is ‘committed to fully cooperating throughout the process’, the show’s production company Banijay UK said. 

The host will be on BBC One as usual tonight because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef’s Christmas specials will also still be broadcast.

The chef has since thanked people for their support following accusations he mimicked a sex act and wandered into the MasterChef studio ‘completely naked’ apart from a ‘sock covering his penis’. 

Now in a video posted on Instagram tonight, he said: ‘I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reach out and showing their support.

‘That’s good of you, thank you very much.’

In October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never ‘flirt with’ or ‘hit on’ another woman and saying: ‘I didn’t say anything sexual’. 

Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations.

In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: ‘This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.

‘Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.

‘While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process.

‘Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.

‘Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.’

The statement added: ‘If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.’ 

The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it ‘seriously’.

A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.

‘We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.

‘Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.’